Marked and rapid reductions in both pericarditis pain and inflammation
maintained throughout the 26-week study
Episodes of pericarditis per year substantially reduced
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, today announced it has achieved the target patient enrollment of 100 patients in "ARCHER", its Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the impact of CardiolRx™ on myocardial recovery in patients with acute myocarditis.
"We are pleased to have achieved our target patient enrollment in the ARCHER trial, which reflects the commitment and dedication of our clinical collaborators and participating patients. Reaching this milestone is integral to enhancing our understanding of the therapeutic impact of CardiolRx™ in acute myocarditis, a debilitating and potentially life-threatening inflammatory heart disease that significantly impairs cardiac function and patient quality of life," said Andrew Hamer, Cardiol Therapeutics' Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research & Development. "With topline results expected early next year the data from the ARCHER trial is anticipated to offer key insights concerning the effects of CardiolRx™ on myocardial recovery. Furthermore, we anticipate these findings will complement the clinical data from our MAvERIC Phase II study in recurrent pericarditis, the full results of which will be presented in November at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024."
ARCHER Study Design
The design and rationale for ARCHER were published June 27, 2024, in the journal ESC Heart Failure. ARCHER is a Phase II multi-national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the safety, tolerability, and impact of CardiolRx™ on myocardial recovery in patients presenting with acute myocarditis. The study has an enrollment target of 100 patients to be recruited from pre-eminent cardiovascular research centers in the United States, Canada, France, Brazil, and Israel. The primary outcome measures of the trial, which will be evaluated following 12 weeks of double-blind therapy, consist of two cardiac magnetic resonance imaging measures: left ventricular function (longitudinal strain) and myocardial edema/fibrosis (extra-cellular volume), each of which has been shown to predict long-term prognosis of patients with acute myocarditis. Additional efficacy outcome measurements include survival, freedom from major cardiovascular events, resolution of clinical symptoms, and change in biomarkers associated with cardiac function and inflammation.
Acute Myocarditis
Acute myocarditis is an inflammatory condition of the heart muscle (myocardium) characterized by chest pain, shortness of breath at rest or during activity, fatigue, rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), and light-headedness or the feeling one might faint. The disease is an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure and is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age. Viral infection is the most common cause of myocarditis; however, it can also result from bacterial infection and commonly used drugs and mRNA vaccines, as well as therapies used to treat several common cancers, including chemo-therapeutic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors. There are no FDA-approved therapies for acute myocarditis. Patients hospitalized with the condition experience an average seven-day length of stay and a 4 - 6% risk of in-hospital mortality, with average hospital charge per stay estimated at $110,000 in the United States.
Cardiol believes there is a significant opportunity to develop an important new therapy for acute myocarditis that would also be eligible for designation as an orphan drug in the United States and the European Union. Orphan drug designation programs were established to provide life sciences companies with incentives to develop new therapies for rare diseases. These incentives include periods of prolonged marketing exclusivity and exemptions from certain fees. Products with orphan drug designation also frequently qualify for accelerated regulatory review.
About Cardiol Therapeutics
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The Company's lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx™ (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis, and heart failure.
Cardiol has received Investigational New Drug Application authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration ("US FDA") to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx™ in two diseases affecting the heart: (i) a Phase II multi-center open-label pilot study in recurrent pericarditis (the MAvERIC-Pilot study; NCT05494788), an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations; and (ii) a Phase II multi-national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (the ARCHER trial; NCT05180240) in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age. The US FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx™ for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis.
Cardiol is also developing CRD-38, a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation intended for use in heart failure - a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.
For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information". Forward looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, statements relating to the Company's focus on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, the molecular targets and mechanism of action of the Company's product candidates, the Company's intended clinical studies and trial activities and timelines associated with such activities, including for primary efficacy endpoint and secondary endpoints, the Company's anticipation that the results of the ARCHER trial are anticipated to offer key insights concerning the effects of CardiolRx™ on myocardial recovery, the Company's expectation that the results of the ARCHER trial will complement the Company's clinical data from the MAvERIC Phase II study in recurrent pericarditis, the Company's plans to present the full results of the MAvERIC Phase II study in November 2024 at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024, the Company's expectation that there is a significant opportunity to develop an important new therapy for acute myocarditis that would also be eligible for designation as an orphan drug in the United States and the European Union, and the Company's plan to advance the development of CRD-38, a novel subcutaneous formulation of cannabidiol intended for use in heart failure. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators on April 1, 2024, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com
Cardiol Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CRDL,TSX:CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The company’s lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx™ (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis and heart failure.
Cardiol has received Investigational New Drug Application authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx in two diseases affecting the heart: (i) a Phase II multi-center open-label pilot study in recurrent pericarditis (the MAvERIC-Pilot study; NCT05494788), an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations; and (ii) a Phase II multi-national, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (the ARCHER trial; NCT05180240) in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age.
Cardiol is also developing a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation of cannabidiol intended for use in heart failure – a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.
In November 2023, Cardiol announced that it has exceeded 50 percent of the patient enrollment target for the company-sponsored Phase II open-label MAvERIC-Pilot study investigating the tolerance, safety and efficacy of CardiolRx in patients with recurrent pericarditis. The study will also assess the improvement in objective measures of disease, and during an extension period, assess the feasibility of weaning concomitant background therapy including corticosteroids, while taking CardiolRx.
Pericarditis refers to inflammation of the membrane or sac that surrounds the heart (the pericardium) that is most frequently triggered by a viral infection. Recurrent pericarditis is the most common complication following an initial acute episode of pericarditis, and patients may have multiple recurrences. Symptoms include debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, resulting in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Infrequent but life-threatening complications associated with pericarditis include a large accumulation of pericardial fluid, scarring, and constriction of the heart which may limit heart function. The disease is diagnosed in 0.2 percent of all cardiovascular in-hospital admissions and is responsible for 5 percent of emergency room admissions for chest pain in North America and Western Europe. Recurrent pericarditis is the re-appearance of symptoms after a symptom-free period of at least 4 – 6 weeks following an initial acute episode of pericarditis. These recurrences appear in 15 percent to 30 percent of acute cases and usually within 18 months. Furthermore, up to 50 percent of patients with a recurrent episode of pericarditis experience more recurrences. Standard first-line medical therapy consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin with or without colchicine. Corticosteroids such as prednisone are second-line therapy in patients with continued recurrence and inadequate response to conventional therapy.
The only FDA-approved therapy for recurrent pericarditis, launched in 2021, is generally used as a third-line intervention in patients with a third or fourth recurrence. The number of cases of patients seeking and receiving treatment for recurrent pericarditis annually in the US is estimated at 38,000. Hospitalization due to recurrent pericarditis is often associated with a 5 – 8 day length of stay and cost per stay is estimated to range between $20,000 and $30,000 in the United States.
The Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study is expected to enroll 25 patients at clinical centers in the United States that specialize in pericarditis care. The protocol has been designed in collaboration with thought leaders in pericardial disease. The study chairman is Dr. Allan L. Klein, director of the Center of Pericardial Diseases and professor of medicine, at the Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change, from baseline to eight weeks, in patient-reported pericarditis pain using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). The NRS is a validated clinical tool employed across multiple conditions with acute and chronic pain, including previous studies of recurrent pericarditis. Additional endpoints during the extension period include the NRS score after 26 weeks of treatment, and changes in inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP), a commonly used clinical marker of inflammation.
“Recurrent pericarditis is a debilitating inflammatory heart disease associated with symptoms that adversely affect quality of life and physical activity. Results of the MAvERIC-Pilot study will assist in further understanding the therapeutic profile of our lead investigational drug in this condition and inform the design of a pivotal Phase III clinical trial to underpin the potential regulatory approval of CardiolRx, which is also being evaluated in the global ARCHER Phase II trial in patients presenting with acute myocarditis,” said David Elsley, Cardiol Therapeutics’ president and chief executive officer.
In the US, an orphan drug designation is granted for pharmaceuticals being developed to treat medical conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people. These conditions are referred to as orphan diseases. The assignment of orphan status to a disease and to drugs developed to treat it is a matter of public policy in many countries and has yielded medical breakthroughs that might not otherwise have been achieved. In the US and the European Union, orphan drugs are eligible for accelerated marketing approvals and companies developing orphan drugs typically receive other incentives, including a prolonged period of market exclusivity that can extend over seven years, during which the drug developer has sole rights to market the drug.
Recurrent pericarditis is an orphan disease in the United States, thereby making CardiolRx eligible for orphan drug status under the FDA’s Orphan Drug Designation program.
Independent advisors and key investigators comprising six highly distinguished thought leaders in cardiology from the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, the Monash Victoria Heart Institute, the University of Virginia, and Northwestern University have been established to design, oversee, and guide Cardiol’s Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study in patients with recurrent pericarditis.
In January 2024, Cardiol exceeded 50 percent patient enrollment in ARCHER, the company’s Phase II multi-center, international, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to study the safety and tolerability of CardiolRx, as well as its impact on myocardial recovery, in patients presenting with acute myocarditis.
Myocarditis is an acute inflammatory condition of the heart muscle (myocardium) characterized by chest pain, impaired cardiac function, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and conduction disturbances. Although the symptoms are often mild, myocarditis remains an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure and is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age. Although viral infection is the most common cause of myocarditis, the condition can also result from bacterial infection, commonly used drugs and mRNA vaccines, as well as therapies used to treat several common cancers, including chemo-therapeutic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
In a proportion of patients, the inflammation in the heart persists and causes decreased heart function with symptoms and signs of heart failure, and as such treatment is based on standard-of-care recommendations for heart failure. This includes diuretics, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptors blockers, beta-blockers, and aldosterone inhibitors. For those with a fulminant presentation, intensive care is often required, with the use of inotropic medications (to increase the force of the heart muscle contraction). Severe cases frequently require ventricular assist devices or extracorporeal oxygenation and may necessitate heart transplantation.
There are no FDA-approved therapies for acute myocarditis. Patients hospitalized with the condition experience an average 7-day length of stay and a 4 – 6 percent risk of in-hospital mortality, with average hospital charge per stay estimated at $110,000 in the United States.
“The US orphan drug program was successfully utilized to accelerate the first FDA approval of CBD for the treatment of rare forms of pediatric epilepsy, and significant shareholder value was created in the process,” Elsley said. “Given the mortality and significant morbidity risk associated with acute myocarditis, we believe there is a similar opportunity in pursuing an expedited development program of our CardiolRx pharmaceutical CBD formulation for this serious orphan disease which has no accepted standard of care.”
The primary efficacy endpoints of the Phase II ARCHER trial consist of extracellular volume (ECV) and global longitudinal strain (GLS). The secondary efficacy endpoint is left ventricular ejection fraction. Since people with acute myocarditis have impaired heart function, current treatment is based on standard-of-care recommendations for heart failure. This includes diuretics, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptors blockers, beta-blockers, and aldosterone inhibitors. For those with a severe and sudden onset presentation, intensive care is often required, with the use of inotropic medications (to increase the force of the heart muscle contraction) and occasionally, heart-lung bypass or ventricular assist devices. There is otherwise no specific treatment for acute myocarditis although some patients have responded to immuno-suppressive therapy (azathioprine) in combination with steroids, but the data are not conclusive enough for this to be the recommended therapy.
An independent clinical steering committee, comprising 10 highly distinguished thought leaders in cardiology from the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, McGill University Health Centre, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University Medicine Berlin, Tel Aviv “Sourasky” Medical Center, São Paulo University Medical School, and Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital (Sorbonne University), has been established to design, oversee, and guide Cardiol’s Phase II multi-national ARCHER trial in acute myocarditis.
Heart failure affects more than 64 million people globally and associated healthcare costs exceed $30 billion annually in the US alone. Heart failure is a chronic, progressive syndrome in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. People with heart failure suffer from shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, edema, reduced exercise capacity, often struggle with simple daily activities and are frequently hospitalized. For many, these symptoms significantly reduce their quality of life. Known causes of heart failure include ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction (heart attack), hypertension, valvular heart disease, inflammatory diseases of the heart such as myocarditis and cardiomyopathies, anti-cancer therapies, and inherited metabolic diseases.
Heart failure remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and persists as a growing health and economic burden. In the United States alone, 6 million people over the age of 20 are living with heart failure, and this number is projected to increase to more than 8 million by 2030. The total annual cost attributed to heart failure is projected to increase to $69.8 billion by 2030.
Total deaths attributed to heart failure annually in the United States have been reported in the range of 86,000 to more than 300,000, and hospitalizations range from 800,000 to 1.3 million. The five-year mortality rate for those with heart failure has been reported at 52.6 percent overall.
Cardiol is developing CRD-38, a novel proprietary drug formulation designed to deliver cannabidiol by subcutaneous administration. They are undertaking IND-enabling activities to support clinical evaluation of CRD-38 as a therapeutic strategy in heart failure care – a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.
In 2023, Cardiol announced positive study results from one of its international collaborating research centers indicating how the CRD-38 subcutaneous formulation slowed increases in body weight and heart weight and prevented increases in key cardiac inflammatory and remodeling markers in a model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.
Published third-party research has shown that cannabidiol reduces inflammatory activation of the endothelial lining of blood vessels and aids endothelial vasorelaxation, resulting in improved blood flow. Cannabidiol has also been shown to attenuate several measures of inflammation in models of diabetes, a common comorbidity in heart failure patients, and to reduce myocardial fibrosis in a model of inflammatory heart disease.
Cannabidiol is lipid soluble, virtually insoluble in water, highly sensitive to deactivation in the liver via first-pass metabolism when taken orally and is rapidly cleared from the body. This results in a low overall bioavailability when taken orally. Cardiol’s subcutaneously administered drug formulation is designed to minimize first-pass metabolism, optimize and maintain blood levels of the drug, and target inflammation and increased fibrosis in the heart. Cardiol believes that overcoming the low bioavailability issues associated with cannabidiol will significantly broaden the therapeutic potential of this molecule.
Cardiol is working together with world-class researchers and clinicians at international centers of excellence to leverage their expertise in drug development, experimental execution, inflammation and fibrosis, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and clinical trial protocol design. The collaborations provide optimal advice and knowledge platform in pursuit of Cardiol’s purpose: to heal the heart with innovative science.
David Elsley is the founder and CEO of Vasogen and has an MBA degree. Elsley has over 25 years of experience developing, financing, and managing all aspects of corporate development in biotechnology and high-growth organizations. Elsley founded Vasogen, a biotechnology company focused on the research and commercial development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of heart failure and other inflammatory conditions. Elsley assembled a team of management, directors and scientific advisors comprising industry professionals and thought leaders from North America and Europe.
Dr. Andrew Hamer has an MBChB degree. He is the former executive director at Amgen, responsible for leading global development of Repatha®. Hamer is the former chief cardiologist at Nelson Hospital, New Zealand. He has over 19 years of experience practicing cardiology and internal medicine.
Chris Waddick has an MBA degree, is a chartered professional accountant, and is a certified management accountant. He has over 30 years of experience in financial and executive roles in the biotechnology and energy industries. Waddick is the former chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Vasogen Inc.
Bernard Lim has over 30 years of experience in the life sciences industry, spanning biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, and high-technology companies. He is the founder and CEO of a highly successful drug delivery company that he led from research and development through to commercialization, and facilitated its eventual acquisition by Eli Lily. Lim is a chartered engineer per UK standards and is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Dr. Andrea Parker is the former chief scientific officer at Peter Munk Cardiac Center, University Health Network. Parker is a clinical epidemiologist with more than 30 years’ experience in clinical trials design, management, and execution in industry and academic settings.
John Geddes has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, comprising roles within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, clinical diagnostics, and life science research technology companies. Geddes has an MBA degree and is the former corporate senior director of business development at Luminex Corporation, a DiaSorin Company.
Anne Tomalin is the founder of CanReg and TPIreg, regulatory firms previously sold to Optum Insight and Innomar Strategies, respectively. Tomalin is an expert in regulatory affairs in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Blagoja Ristevski graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering and inorganic chemistry from the University of Ss ‘Cyril and Methodius’, Skopje, Macedonia, and pursued postgraduate research on natural biopolymers as drug carriers at King’s College London, UK. For 20 years, he was involved in the research and discovery of active drug molecules, drug delivery technologies, and manufacturing methodologies for finished drug products at several biopharmaceutical companies.
Guillermo Torre is the president of TecSalud academic medical center and school of the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico. He is the former director of Cardiac Transplantation at the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center.
Jennifer M. Chao has over 25 years of experience in the biotech and life sciences industries focused primarily on finance and corporate strategy. Chao is managing partner of CoreStrategies Management, a company she founded in 2008 to provide transformational corporate and financial strategies to biotech/life science companies for maximizing core valuation.
President and CEO at Dalton Pharma, Peter Pekos has broad experience in research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceuticals, products, and services.
Colin Stott has over 30 years of experience in pre-clinical and clinical development, with specific expertise in the development of cannabinoid-based medicines. Stott is the chief operating officer of Alterola Biotech Inc. and the former scientific affairs director, international, and research and development operations director for GW Pharmaceuticals, a world leader in the development of cannabinoid therapeutics.
Teri Loxam has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, life sciences and TMT industries with diverse roles spanning strategy, investor relations, finance and communications.. Loxam will be the chief financial officer of Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health.
Michael Willner has practiced as an attorney and a certified public accountant. He graduated from Emory University Law School as a member of the Emory Law Review. Subsequently, he practiced real estate and corporate law with New York City-based Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, one of the nation’s most prominent international law firms. Before his legal career, Willner was employed by the former Arthur Andersen & Company, a national accounting firm, where he practiced in the tax department.
Dr. Paul Ridker is director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, a translational research unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston (BWH). A cardiovascular medicine specialist, he is also the Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine at Harvard School of Medicine (HSM). Ridker received his medical degree from HSM and then completed an internal medicine residency and a cardiology fellowship at BWH. He is board certified in internal medicine. Ridker’s clinical interests include coronary artery disease and the underlying causes and prevention of atherosclerotic disease. He is the author of over 900 peer-reviewed publications and reviews, 64 book chapters, and six textbooks related to cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Bruce McManus is a professor emeritus of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He has served as CEO of the Center of Excellence for Prevention of Organ Failure (PROOF Center), director of the UBC Center for Heart and Lung Innovation, and scientific director of the Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, CIHR. McManus received BA and MD degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, an MSc from Pennsylvania State University, and a PhD from the University of Toledo. McManus pursued post-doctoral fellowships at the University of California, Santa Barbara in environmental physiology and at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda. McManus served as MD in cardiovascular and pulmonary pathology, and completed residency training at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard University, in Internal Medicine and Pathology.
Dr. Joseph Hill is a professor of internal medicine and molecular biology, chief of cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas, and is the director of the Harry S. Moss Heart Center. Hill holds both the James T. Willerson, MD, distinguished chair in cardiovascular diseases, and the Frank M. Ryburn Jr. Chair in Heart Research. He graduated from Duke University with an MD and a PhD in 1987. Hill’s PhD dissertation research was in the field of cardiac ion channel biophysics. He then worked for five years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, studying central and peripheral nicotinic receptors. He next completed an internal medicine internship and residency, as well as a clinical cardiology fellowship, at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
Marked and rapid reductions in both pericarditis pain and inflammation
maintained throughout the 26-week study
Episodes of pericarditis per year substantially reduced
MAvERIC-Pilot results support advancing CardiolRx™ into the Phase II/III MAVERIC-2
and the Phase III MAVERIC-3 clinical trials
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, today reported clinical results from its Phase II open-label MAvERIC-Pilot study investigating the impact of CardiolRx™ administered to patients with symptomatic recurrent pericarditis. The data showed that the marked improvements in both pericarditis pain and inflammation, previously reported at the 8-week primary endpoint, were maintained throughout the extension period of the 26-week study. The data were included in an oral presentation as part of the Laennec Clinician-Educator Award & Lecture at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024. Dr. S. Allen Luis, Co-Director of the Pericardial Diseases Clinic and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, presented on behalf of the MAvERIC-Pilot investigators. These findings support the initiation of a Phase III trial (MAVERIC-3), designed to assess CardiolRx™ for the treatment of pericarditis patients to prevent recurrence. The MAVERIC-3 trial is expected to run in parallel with the recently announced MAVERIC-2 Phase IIIII trial designed to evaluate the impact of CardiolRx™ in recurrent pericarditis patients following cessation of interleukin-1 blocker therapy.
"The data reported today show that patients enrolled in MAvERIC-Pilot, despite the severity of their disease, experienced clinically relevant and rapid reductions in both their pericarditis pain and C-reactive protein levels that were maintained throughout the study. In addition, results demonstrated a substantial reduction in pericarditis episodes per year as compared to the patients' historical event rate prior to the study. Importantly, treatment was shown to be safe and well tolerated in a population who presented with significant disease burden," said Dr. S. Allen Luis, Co-Director of the Pericardial Diseases Clinic and Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. "I look forward to further investigation in the upcoming Phase II/III and Phase III clinical trials."
The MAvERIC-Pilot study enrolled 27 participants (average age 53 years; 67% female) at eight clinical sites across the United States. Average disease duration and the number of pericarditis episodes per year prior to trial entry were 2.7 years and 5.8 events per year, respectively. Baseline pericarditis pain score averaged 5.8 out of 10 and the C-reactive protein ("CRP") level averaged 2.0 mg/dL. In addition to pericarditis chest pain, other manifestations of pericarditis-confirmed diagnosis were pericardial effusion in 21 patients (78%), pericardial rub in 4 (15%), and ST-segment elevation or PR depression in 5 (19%). Stable doses of baseline medications for recurrent pericarditis, in any combination, included colchicine (85% of patients), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (78%), and corticosteroids (41%). The 26-week study consisted of an 8-week treatment period ("TP") followed by an 18-week extension period ("EP"). In the first 10 days of the TP, CardiolRx™ was added to baseline medications for recurrent pericarditis and up-titrated to 10 mg/kg twice daily, or the maximum tolerated dose. Throughout the TP, patients continued receiving this concomitant therapy but were weaned off baseline medications during the EP to assess pericarditis recurrence while on CardiolRx™ monotherapy.
Summary of results:
"The compelling results from MAvERIC-Pilot showed that CardiolRx™ resulted in marked and rapid reductions in pericarditis pain and inflammation in patients with a high degree of disease burden as well as a striking decrease in pericarditis episodes per year. The notable impact of CardiolRx™ on these important clinical endpoints demonstrates its potential to offer a more accessible and non-immunosuppressive therapeutic option for tens of thousands of pericarditis patients," said David Elsley, President and CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. "These results further support advancing our late-stage MAVERIC clinical development program comprising our recently announced Phase II/III MAVERIC-2 trial as well as our planned MAVERIC-3 Phase III trial. Undertaking both trials in parallel provides the exciting opportunity for CardiolRx™ to address the unmet needs of patients in multiple segments that encompass a broad proportion of the pericarditis population."
MAvERIC-PILOT Phase II Study
To be eligible for enrollment in MAvERIC-Pilot, adult patients (≥18 years) were required to present with at least their third pericarditis episode, which included symptomatic pericarditis chest pain with a numerical rating scale ("NRS") pain score ≥4 (on an 11-point numerical rating scale ("NRS") of 0-10), together with either an elevated level of CRP ≥1 mg/dL, a clinical marker of inflammation, or evidence of pericardial inflammation assessed by cardiac imaging with or without elevated CRP. NRS is a validated instrument used to assess patient-reported pericarditis pain. Zero represents 'no pain at all', whereas the upper limit of 10 represents 'the worst pain ever possible'. At baseline eligible patients were permitted to be receiving stable doses of concomitant medications for recurrent pericarditis (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or colchicine and/or oral corticosteroid therapy in any combination).
Pericarditis
Pericarditis refers to inflammation of the pericardium (the membrane or sac that surrounds the heart) frequently resulting from a viral infection. Following that initial episode patients may have multiple recurrences, and the primary goal of treatment is recurrence prevention. Symptoms include debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue, resulting in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Significant accumulation of pericardial fluid and scarring can progress to life-threatening constriction of the heart. The only FDA-approved therapy for recurrent pericarditis, launched in 2021, is costly and is primarily used as a third-line intervention. On an annual basis, the number of patients in the United States having experienced at least one recurrence is estimated at 38,000. Approximately 60% of patients with multiple recurrences (>1) still suffer for longer than two years, and one third are still impacted at five years. Hospitalization due to recurrent pericarditis is often associated with a 6-8-day length of stay and cost per stay is estimated to range between $20,000 and $30,000 in the United States.
About Cardiol Therapeutics
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The Company's lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx™ (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis, and heart failure.
Cardiol has received Investigational New Drug Application authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration ("US FDA") to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx™ in two diseases affecting the heart: recurrent pericarditis and acute myocarditis. The MAVERIC Program in recurrent pericarditis, an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, comprises the Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study (NCT05494788), the Phase II/III MAVERIC-2 trial, and the planned Phase III MAVERIC-3 trial. The ARCHER trial (NCT05180240) is a Phase II study in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age. The US FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx™ for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis.
Cardiol is also developing CRD-38, a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation intended for use in heart failure – a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.
For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information". Forward looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans to expand the MAVERIC clinical development program and advance CardiolRx™ into the Phase II/III MAVERIC-2 and the Phase III MAVERIC-3 clinical trials, the Company's plans to conduct the MAVERIC-2 and MAVERIC-3 studies in parallel, the MAVERIC-3 Phase III study being designed to assess CardiolRx™ for the treatment of the broader population of pericarditis patients to prevent recurrence, the Company's focus on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, the molecular targets and mechanism of action of the Company's product candidates, the Company's intended clinical studies and trial activities and timelines associated with such activities, including the Company's plan to complete the Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis with CardiolRx, and the Company's plan to advance the development of CRD-38, a novel subcutaneous formulation of cannabidiol intended for use in heart failure. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators on April 1, 2024, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read the Supplement, the accompanying Base Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein.
For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230401
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PRISM MarketView a leading provider of market insights and company news, proudly announces that Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. ( NASDAQ: CRDL, TSX: CRDL ) has been added to the PRISM Emerging Biotech Index, which spotlights companies leading innovation and creating market impact within the biotech sector. Cardiol's focus on anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for heart disease, including its lead candidate CardiolRx™, positions it as a pioneer in addressing major unmet needs in cardiac care.
The US FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx™ for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis. Cardiol's MAVERIC Program in recurrent pericarditis, an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, comprises the Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study (NCT05494788), the Phase II/III MAVERIC-2 trial, and the planned Phase III MAVERIC-3 trial. The MAVERIC-2 trial will evaluate the impact of CardiolRx™ in recurrent pericarditis patients following the cessation of interleukin-1 blocker therapy. MAVERIC-2 is expected to initiate in Q4 2024 at major pericardial disease centers across the United States and Europe, with results anticipated ahead of the company's planned pivotal Phase III MAVERIC-3 trial.
Recurrent pericarditis affects approximately 38,000 patients in the United States annually who have experienced at least one recurrence. The global pericarditis market was valued at $2.44 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.24% during the forecast period of 2024-2032, reaching $3.87 billion by 2032.
In addition, Cardiol is advancing CRD-38, a proprietary subcutaneously administered therapy for heart failure. Cardiol's broad IP portfolio and regulatory pathway focus, including FDA and European Medicines Agency orphan designations, bolster its strong market positioning. The company is debt-free and well-capitalized to achieve corporate milestones into 2026.
For more information on Cardiol Therapeutics and the PRISM Emerging Biotech Index , visit prismmarketview.com .
About Cardiol Therapeutics
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The Company's lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis and heart failure.
Cardiol has received Investigational New Drug Application authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx in two diseases affecting the heart: recurrent pericarditis and acute myocarditis. The MAVERIC Program in recurrent pericarditis, an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits and hospitalizations, comprises the Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study (NCT05494788), the Phase II/III MAVERIC-2 trial, and the planned Phase III MAVERIC-3 trial. The ARCHER trial (NCT05180240) is a Phase II study in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis.
Cardiol is also developing CRD-38, a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation intended for use in heart failure – a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.
For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com .
About PRISM MarketView
Established in 2020, PRISM MarketView is dedicated to the monitoring and analysis of small-cap stocks in burgeoning sectors. We deliver up-to-the-minute financial market news, provide comprehensive investor tools and foster a dynamic investor community. Central to our offerings are proprietary indexes that observe emerging sectors, including biotech, clean energy, next-generation tech, medical devices and beyond. Visit us at prismmarketview.com and follow us on X.
PRISM MarketView does not provide investment advice.
Disclaimer: This communication was produced by PRISM MarketView (PMV). PMV is not a registered or licensed broker-dealer nor investment adviser. No information contained in this communication constitutes an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation of any security. PMV may be compensated by respective clients for publicizing information relating to its clients' securities.
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MAVERIC-2 trial will evaluate the impact of CardiolRx(TM) following cessation of interleukin-1 blocker therapy (rilonacept or anakinra) and is expected to run concurrently with the Company's planned Phase III program.
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, today announced plans to expand the MAVERIC clinical development program and advance CardiolRx™ into a late-stage clinical trial ("MAVERIC-2") to evaluate the impact of CardiolRx™ in recurrent pericarditis patients following cessation of interleukin-1 ("IL-1") blocker therapy. MAVERIC-2 is expected to be initiated during Q4 at major pericardial disease centres in the United States and Europe and to report results ahead of the Company's planned pivotal Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis.
"MAVERIC-2 provides an exciting opportunity to expand the market potential for CardiolRx through the execution of a cost-effective study and potentially provides a path for an accelerated regulatory approval timeline," said David Elsley, President & CEO of Cardiol Therapeutics. "This important new study, designed in collaboration with an international panel of advisors comprised of experts in pericarditis, will also augment data from our planned Phase III MAVERIC-3 trial by exploring the potential for our lead oral drug candidate to assist the growing number of recurrent pericarditis patients who seek alternative options to chronic use of immunosuppressant biologics."
MAVERIC-2 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II/III trial in approximately 110 patients. Patients with stable disease who are receiving IL-1 blocker treatment will be randomly assigned to receive either CardiolRx™ or placebo following cessation of the IL-1 blocker. The primary clinical objective of the trial will be to assess the impact of CardiolRx™ versus placebo on freedom from a new episode of recurrent pericarditis. Other clinical endpoints of interest include time to a new episode of pericarditis recurrence and change in patient-reported pericarditis chest pain score and the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein ("CRP").
IL-1 is a key pro-inflammatory cytokine in the pathophysiology of recurrent pericarditis. It is generated downstream following activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and amplifies the autoinflammatory response characteristic of the disease. IL-1 blockers (rilonacept or anakinra) target and negate the activity of IL-1, but given their expense and immunosuppressant risks, they are generally prescribed as a third-line intervention in difficult-to-treat patients. There is a growing body of evidence indicating pericarditis recurrence rates are as high as seventy-five percent and onset is rapid following cessation of IL-1 blocker therapy. Currently, many patients who discontinue IL-1 blocker therapy and subsequently suffer a recurrence require rescue treatment with further administration of these biologics, potentially leading to IL-1 blocker dependence.
"CardiolRx™ has been shown experimentally to inhibit assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the subsequent generation of IL-1, and following oral administration has led to marked reductions in pericarditis pain in patients suffering from chronic pericardial disease," said Dr. Andrew Hamer, Cardiol Therapeutics' Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research & Development. "In addition to potentially offering a more accessible and non-immunosuppressive therapy to thousands of patients who are non-responsive or intolerant to current therapies, CardiolRx™ may also have therapeutic potential to prevent recurrences following discontinuation of IL-1 blockers, which would address an unmet need in a growing subset of patients dependant on long-term IL-1 blocker therapy."
The Company previously announced positive topline data from MAvERIC-Pilot investigating CardiolRx™ for recurrent pericarditis which showed a substantial reduction in the primary efficacy endpoint of patient-reported pericarditis pain at the end of the 8-week treatment period ("TP"), as well as normalization of inflammation - as measured by CRP - in 80% of the patients with elevated CRP at baseline. Eighty-nine percent of patients (24/27) progressed from the TP into the now completed extension period ("EP") of the study, defined as the additional 18-week period where background therapy was weaned and patients were followed on monotherapy of CardiolRx™. Full clinical data will be reported in an oral presentation November 18th, 2024, at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024 and will include freedom from pericarditis recurrence during the 18-week EP, 26-week pericarditis pain score and inflammatory marker levels, and safety and tolerability outcomes. The totality of the MAvERIC-Pilot data will support and further inform the Company's plans related to a second late-stage study called MAVERIC-3, a Phase III pivotal trial designed to assess CardiolRx™ for the treatment of the broader population of pericarditis patients to prevent recurrence.
Pericarditis
Pericarditis refers to inflammation of the pericardium (the membrane or sac that surrounds the heart) frequently resulting from a viral infection. Following that initial episode patients may have multiple recurrences, and the primary goal of treatment is recurrence prevention. Symptoms include debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, resulting in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Significant accumulation of pericardial fluid and scarring can progress to life-threatening constriction of the heart. The only FDA-approved therapy for recurrent pericarditis, launched in 2021, is costly and is primarily used as a third-line intervention. On an annual basis, the number of patients in the United States having experienced at least one recurrence is estimated at 38,000. Approximately 60% of patients with multiple recurrences (>1) still suffer for longer than two years, and one third are still impacted at five years. Hospitalization due to recurrent pericarditis is often associated with a 6-8-day length of stay and cost per stay is estimated to range between $20,000 and $30,000 in the United States.
About Cardiol Therapeutics
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The Company's lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx™ (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis, and heart failure.
Cardiol has received Investigational New Drug Application authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration ("US FDA") to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx™ in two diseases affecting the heart: recurrent pericarditis and acute myocarditis. The MAVERIC Program in recurrent pericarditis, an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, comprises the Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study (NCT05494788), the Phase II/III MAVERIC-2 trial, and the planned Phase III MAVERIC-3 trial. The ARCHER trial (NCT05180240) is a Phase II study in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age. The US FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx™ for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis.
Cardiol is also developing CRD-38, a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation intended for use in heart failure - a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.
For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information". Forward looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans to expand the MAVERIC clinical development program and advance CardiolRx™ into a late-stage clinical trial called MAVERIC-2, the Company's expectation to initiate the MAVERIC-2 study during the fourth quarter of 2024 at major pericardial disease centres in the United States and Europe and report results ahead of the Company's planned pivotal Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis, the Company's plans to conduct its Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis concurrently with MAVERIC-2, the Company's intention to report full clinical data from the MAvERIC-Pilot study in an oral presentation at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024, the Company's expectation that the full clinical data from the MAvERIC-Pilot study presented will include freedom from pericarditis recurrence during the 18-week EP, 26-week pericarditis pain score and inflammatory marker levels and safety and tolerability outcomes, the Company's belief that the MAvERIC-Pilot study data will support and further inform the Company's plans related to a second late-stage study called MAVERIC-3 which the Company intends to be a Phase III pivotal trial designed to assess CardiolRx™ for the treatment of the broader population of pericarditis patients to prevent recurrence, the Company's focus on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, the molecular targets and mechanism of action of the Company's product candidates, the Company's intended clinical studies and trial activities and timelines associated with such activities, including the Company's plan to complete the Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis with CardiolRx, and the Company's plan to advance the development of CRD-38, a novel subcutaneous formulation of cannabidiol intended for use in heart failure. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators on April 1, 2024, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read the Supplement, the accompanying Base Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein.
For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/227396
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Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, is pleased to announce that, further to its successfully completed public offering of an aggregate of 8,437,500 Class A common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price to the public of US$1.60 per Common Share (the "Offering Price") for gross proceeds of US$13.5 million (the "Offering"), Canaccord Genuity has purchased an additional 1,265,625 Common Shares at the Offering Price pursuant to their exercise in full of the over-allotment option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), for additional gross proceeds to the Company of $2,025,000 before deducting the underwriting commissions.
After giving effect to the full exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, Cardiol sold 9,703,125 Common Shares under the Offering, for aggregate gross proceeds of US$15,525,000.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to support the clinical development of CardiolRx for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis and for general and administrative expenses, working capital and other expenses.
Canaccord Genuity acted as the sole bookrunner in connection with the Offering.
The Offering was made pursuant to a U.S. registration statement on Form F-10, declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (the "SEC") on July 16, 2024 (the "Registration Statement"), and the Company's existing Canadian short form base shelf prospectus (the "Base Prospectus") dated July 12, 2024. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Offering was filed with the securities commission in all of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and with the SEC in the United States, and a final prospectus supplement relating to the Offering (the "Supplement") was filed with the securities commissions in all of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and with the SEC in the United States. The Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus contain important detailed information about the Offering.
The Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus may also be obtained from Canaccord Genuity LLC, 1 Post Office Square, Suite 3000, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, Attn: Syndicate Department, or by email at prospectus@cgf.com.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such province, state or jurisdiction.
About Cardiol Therapeutics
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information". Forward looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators on April 1, 2024, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read the Supplement, the accompanying Base Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein.
For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/226366
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Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, confirmed today that it has successfully closed its previously announced public offering (the "Offering") of 8,437,500 Class A common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price to the public of US$1.60 per Common Share for gross proceeds of US$13.5 million, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses incurred in connection with the Offering.
As previously stated, the Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to support the clinical development of CardiolRx for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis and for general and administrative expenses, working capital and other expenses.
Canaccord Genuity acted as the sole bookrunner in connection with the Offering.
The Offering was made pursuant to a U.S. registration statement on Form F-10, declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (the "SEC") on July 16, 2024 (the "Registration Statement"), and the Company's existing Canadian short form base shelf prospectus (the "Base Prospectus") dated July 12, 2024. A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Offering was filed with the securities commission in all of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and with the SEC in the United States, and a final prospectus supplement relating to the Offering (the "Supplement") was filed with the securities commissions in all of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and with the SEC in the United States. The Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus contain important detailed information about the Offering.
The Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus can be found on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Supplement and accompanying Base Prospectus may also be obtained from Canaccord Genuity LLC, 1 Post Office Square, Suite 3000, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, Attn: Syndicate Department, or by email at prospectus@cgf.com.
This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such province, state or jurisdiction.
About Cardiol Therapeutics
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease.
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are "forward-looking information". Forward looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulators on April 1, 2024, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read the Supplement, the accompanying Base Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein.
For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/226257
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Ratio to receive upfront, and potential milestones and tiered royalty payments
Ratio Therapeutics Inc. ( Ratio ), a pharmaceutical company employing innovative technologies to develop best-in-class radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment and monitoring, entered today into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Novartis Pharma AG, a subsidiary of Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS). The collaboration leverages Ratio's radioligand therapy discovery and development expertise as well as its technology platforms for the development of a Somatostatin Receptor 2 (SSTR2) radiotherapeutic candidate for cancer.
"The team at Ratio is honored and excited to partner with Novartis on the development of a next-generation SSTR2-targeting therapeutic," said Jack Hoppin , Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Ratio . "Together, we aim to develop a best-in-class therapy in the fight against SSTR2-expressing tumors."
"Radioligand therapies hold transformative potential for certain forms of cancer, and Novartis is committed to maximizing their impact by continually improving the benefit for patients," said Fiona Marshall , President of Biomedical Research at Novartis. "We are delighted to collaborate with Ratio to advance this RLT candidate and work together to bring forward additional therapeutic options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancer."
Under the terms of the agreement, Ratio will receive combined upfront and potential milestone payments up to $745m , and is eligible to receive tiered royalty payments. Ratio will collaborate with Novartis to drive preclinical activities to research and select an SSTR2-targeting development candidate. Novartis will assume responsibility for all remaining development, manufacturing, and commercialization activities.
The collaboration combines the expertise and strengths of Ratio and Novartis to further elevate the safety and efficacy of radiopharmaceuticals for patient benefit.
Chestnut Partners served as exclusive financial advisor to Ratio for this transaction.
About Ratio Therapeutics
Ratio Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company with the mission to accelerate the development of next-generation precision radiopharmaceuticals for solid tumors and transform oncology treatment paradigms. With headquarters and laboratories in Boston, the company currently employs a growing team of multidisciplinary experts with backgrounds in radiopharmaceutical discovery and development. Ratio's proprietary R&D platforms, Trillium™ and Macropa™, enable the development of fit-for-purpose radiopharmaceuticals for therapy and imaging that possess pharmacokinetic modulation, thereby improving drug availability, tumor delivery, and tumor loading. The company is also currently advancing the development of its first FAP-targeted radiotherapeutic with plans to enter clinical trials next year.
Please visit www.ratiotx.com for more information and follow us on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn .
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The global pharmaceutical market reached a total value of US$1.6 trillion in 2023, according to Statista, up significantly from the US$888 billion seen just over a decade earlier in 2010.
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The main advantage of a pharmaceutical ETF is the fact that it can provide exposure to an overarching sector, but still trades like a stock. Pharma ETFs also offer less market volatility and lower fees and expenses.
To help investors learn more about ETFs focused on the pharma sector, the Investing News Network presents the five top pharma ETFs by total assets under management, according to ETFdb.com.
Many of these funds have diverse holdings across some of the most important sectors in the pharmaceutical industry, including pain therapeutics, oncology, vaccines and biotechnology. Data was gathered on November 5, 2024.
Total assets under management: US$684.73 million
Established in late 2011, the VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF tracks the MVIS US Listed Pharmaceutical 25 Index. It has the capacity to provide big returns, even though there are some risks attached to the ETF. An analyst report indicates that investors looking for "tactical exposure" to the pharma sector might consider this ETF as an investment option.
The ETF has 26 holdings, with the top five being Eli Lilly with a weight of 12.32 percent, Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) at 8.15 percent, Johnson & Johnson at 6.71 percent, AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) at 6.67 percent and Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) at 5.33 percent.
Total assets under management: US$624.31 million
Created on May 5, 2006, this iShares ETF tracks some of the top US pharma companies. In total, the iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF has 40 holdings, with the vast majority being large-cap stocks.
Of its holdings, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) are by far the largest portions in its portfolio, coming in at weightings of 22.27 percent and 20.3 percent, respectively. The next highest are Bristol-Myers Squibb at 5.29 percent, Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) at 4.68 percent and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) at 4.34 percent.
Total assets under management: US$281.23 million
The Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF is primarily focused on providing exposure to US-based pharma companies. An analyst report states that this ETF chooses individual securities based on certain investment criteria, namely stock valuation and risk factors. Invesco changed the fund's name from the Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF in August 2023.
This ETF was started on June 23, 2005, and currently tracks 27 companies. Its top holdings are Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) with a weight of 5.86 percent, AbbVie at 6.67 percent, Johnson & Johnson at 5.47 percent, Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) at 5.46 percent and Pfizer at 5.43 percent.
Total assets under management: US$154.77 million
The SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF came into the market on June 19, 2006, and represents the pharmaceutical sub-industry sector of the S&P Total Markets Index. An analyst report for the ETF suggests that due to its narrow focus — which includes pharma giants that post "big returns" during times of consolidation — it should not be considered for a long-term portfolio.
This pharma ETF tracks 46 holdings, with relatively close weighting among its holdings. XPH's top five holdings are Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ:CORT) with a weight of 4.32 percent, Longboard Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LBHP) at 4.13 percent, Intra-Cellular Therapies (NASDAQ:ITCI) at 3.97 percent, Bristol-Meyers Squibb at 3.82 percent and Edgewise Therapeutics (NASDAQ:EWTX) at 3.55 percent.
Total assets under management: US$43.48 million
The KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF was launched in February 2018 and tracks an index of large- and mid-cap Chinese stocks in the healthcare sector, all weighted by market capitalization. According to an analyst report, the fund provides investors with "exposure to a relatively small slice of the Chinese economy."
The ETF tracks 55 holdings, and its top five are Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics (SZSE:300760) at 8.18 percent, Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine (SHA:600276) at 7.71 percent, BeiGene (OTC Pink:BEIGF,HKEX:6160) at 6.62 percent, Wuxi Biologics (OTC Pink:WXIBF,HKEX:2269) at 4.47 percent and Zhangzhou Pientzehuang Pharmaceutical (SHA:600436) at 3.63 percent.
This is an updated version of an article originally published by the Investing News Network in 2016.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no investment interest in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
Major pharmaceutical players Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY), AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) and Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) reported mixed Q3 results, with each company facing distinct market forces, ranging from supply issues to financial constraints.
In its latest quarterly report, released on Wednesday (October 30), Eli Lilly missed on sales expectations for Zepbound, its popular weight-loss drug, and Mounjaro, its diabetes medication. Despite growing US demand for these products, supply chain management issues impacted the company’s ability to meet Wall Street's expectations.
According to Reuters, Eli Lilly dropped 8 percent on the news, reducing its market valuation by nearly US$70 billion.
CEO David Ricks said stock management issues with wholesalers were a major factor in the shortfall, noting that distributors were navigating storage and financial constraints that affected order volumes.
Eli Lilly's Q3 report indicates that Zepbound and Mounjaro collectively contributed US$4.37 billion to the company's revenues, falling short of analysts' projections of US$4.89 billion. The company has revised its 2024 profit forecast.
For its part, AbbVie reported a year-on-year decrease in net income, driven primarily by increased operating costs.
The company recorded a 12 percent drop in net income for the third quarter, amounting to US$1.56 billion, while net revenues grew to US$14.46 billion, reflecting a 3.8 percent increase from the previous year.
AbbVie’s CEO, Robert Michael, underscored that the company has seen strong commercial execution and pipeline growth, leading it to increase its guidance for the remainder of the year. He also confirmed a quarterly dividend increase.
In Q3, the company incurred a rise in operating expenses, which totaled US$10.63 billion, up 9 percent from the previous year. The increase was attributed to research and development costs and strategic acquisitions.
AbbVie’s earnings also reflected an increase in pre-tax income, which rose by 5 percent year-on-year to US$2.08 billion for the quarter. The firm's total revenues for the first nine months of 2024 climbed to US$41.23 billion, marking a 3 percent increase from the previous year, despite some challenges associated with operating costs.
On Monday (October 28), AbbVie announced plans to acquire privately held Aliada Therapeutics, a biotech company specializing in treatments for neurological disorders, for an estimated US$1.4 billion. The purchase will support AbbVie’s commitment to expanding its research and treatment capabilities in neurological and other specialty areas.
Meanwhile, Pfizer reported higher revenues, supported by strong sales of its COVID-19 therapies Paxlovid and Comirnaty.
The company’s quarterly revenues for Q3 totaled US$17.7 billion, up 31 percent year-on-year. This increase contributed to Pfizer’s revised guidance for the year, with projected revenues now estimated at US$61 billion to US$64 billion.
CEO Albert Bourla attributed the company’s performance to steady demand for COVID-19 medications, in addition to cost-control measures implemented during the quarter. A spike in COVID-19 cases contributed to heightened demand for Paxlovid, while Pfizer’s acquisition of Seagen bolstered revenues through additional sales of cancer treatments.
Pfizer’s adjusted financial outlook for 2024 reflects projected sales of up to US$64 billion, with estimated contributions of US$5 billion from Comirnaty and US$5.5 billion from Paxlovid for the year.
The company also reported growth across several key product lines, including Eliquis and Xtandi, though some products, like Xeljanz and Ibrance, saw declines due to regulatory changes and price pressures.
It's worth noting that activist investor Starboard Value has reportedly acquired a US$1 billion stake in Pfizer, equivalent to 0.6 percent of the company’s total shares. Its aim is to ignite a turnaround at the company.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
From established players to up-and-coming firms, Canada's pharmaceutical company is diverse and dynamic.
Canadian pharma companies are working to discover and develop major innovations amidst an increasingly competitive global landscape. Rising technologies such as artificial intelligence are playing a role in the landscape as well.
Here the Investing News Network lists the top Canadian pharma stocks on the TSX, TSXV and CSE by year-to-date gains. All data was compiled on October 28, 2024, using TradingView’s stock screener, and the companies considered had market caps above C$10 million at that time. Read on to learn about what's been driving their share prices.
Year-to-date gain: 187.86 percent
Market cap: C$462.9 million
Share price: C$15.89
Cipher Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharma company with a diverse portfolio of treatments, including a range of dermatology and acute hospital care products. The company has out-licensed some of its offerings as well. Cipher began trading on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol CPHRF on January 29.
In addition to its current portfolio, Cipher has acquired Canadian rights multiple dermatology treatments currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials: MOB-015 for the treatment of nail fungus, and CF-101 for the management of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. MOB-015 Phase III trial results are expected in January 2025, and a pivotal Phase III study for CF-101 is expected to start in 2024. The company is also conducting proof-of-concept studies on DTR-001, a topical treatment for removing tattoos.
On July 29, Cipher signed a definitive asset purchase agreement with ParaPRO for its US-based Natroba operations and global product rights. Natroba is a topical treatment for scabies and head lice, and it has FDA exclusivity for the scabies indication through 2033.
Cipher’s share price climbed significantly over the following month, which included the release of its Q2 results. Sales of Epuris, Cipher’s bioequivalent to Accutane, were up by 13 percent compared to Q2 2023, marking their fourth consecutive quarterly increase. However, its price took a hit in September on early blind results from the MOB-015 trials.
Year-to-date gain: 123.73 percent
Market cap: C$35.85 million
Share price: C$0.66
NurExone Biologic is the biopharmaceutical company behind ExoTherapy, a drug delivery platform that uses exosomes, which are nano-sized extracellular vesicles, to create treatments for central nervous system disorders, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. It is a less invasive alternative to cell transplantation, which requires surgery and carries the risk of rejection.
NurExone’s first nano-drug, ExoPTEN, uses a proprietary sIRNA sequence delivered with the ExoTherapy platform to treat spinal cord injuries. ExoPTEN received an Orphan Drug Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2023, meaning it has been recognized as a potential treatment for rare medical conditions. The designation makes it eligible for incentives such as market exclusivity and regulatory assistance aimed at accelerating its development and approval.
During the release of NurExone’s Q1 results, the company shared it would be commencing human trials of ExoTPEN in 2025. On September 26, NurExone announced a non-brokered private placement of up to US$2 million, and reported it had closed the first tranche of US$1.61 million.
Year-to-date gain: 86.67 percent
Market cap: C$91.84 million
Share price: C$0.84
Satellos is a Canadian pharmaceutical company expanding treatment options for muscle disorders. The company has focused specifically on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, developing therapies to regenerate and repair muscle tissue by targeting the specific biological pathways involved. Its lead candidate SAT-3247, targets a protein called AAK1, which regulates the activity of stem cells that activate and differentiate new muscle fibers.
An acceptance to commence Phase 1 clinical trials of the drug was announced on August 19 and the first patient was dosed on September 18. Analysis of tests conducted on canines, shared on October 1, showed improved muscle morphology and increased muscle regeneration with no adverse side effects.
Year-to-date gain: 79.17 percent
Market cap: C$23.36 million
Share price: C$0.43
Telescope Innovations is a chemical technology company that develops scalable manufacturing processes and tools that combine robotic automation, online analysis and machine learning for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
The company has commercialized its Direct Inject-LC system. Short for Direct Inject Liquid Chromatography, the system combines hardware and software to analyze chemical reactions and can potentially reduce the time and cost of new drug development.
On July 31, Telescope Innovations entered into a collaborative research agreement with pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) to accelerate pharmaceutical research and development using automation, robotics and artificial intelligence.
According to a press release, some efforts will focus on deploying Self-Driving Laboratories, a concept pioneered by Telescope Innovations in which robotic systems carry out experiments while AI algorithms analyze the data in real-time to inform researchers about what the next steps should be. The release states that Self-Driving Laboratories are “capable of optimizing material properties and chemical synthesis methods up to 100x faster than traditional research methods.”
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Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
The exorbitant cost of pharmaceutical drugs in the US has been a contentious issue for years, with the Republican and Democrat parties overtly at odds on the best way to lower drug prices.
Despite the best efforts of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, prescription drug prices are still on the rise. Figures from the US Department of Health and Human Services show a 15.2 percent increase in the cost of prescription drugs from 2022 to 2023, with an average of US$590 per drug.
In the lead up to the 2024 US general election, the pharmaceutical industry is buttering its bread on both sides with nearly equal contributions to both parties. Citing data from OpenSecrets, KFF Health News reported in late August that drug companies had donated US$4.89 million to Democrats’ coffers and US$4.35 million to Republicans.
About one-third of the total pharma company campaign contributions are attributable to the three top donors: Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE:LLY).
Narrowing down on the presidential candidates, data retrieved from OpenSecrets on October 28 shows that Vice President Kamala Harris has been the bigger beneficiary of donations, receiving US$1.67 million compared to US$306,584 for former President Donald Trump. Both candidates have promised to tackle the high price of prescription drugs.
Surprisingly, the issue only came up once during the September 10 presidential debate between Harris and Trump, when Harris discussed it in response to a question from moderators about her proposed healthcare plan.
How would a potential Harris administration tackle the challenge of lowering prescription drug prices? Would pharmaceutical companies fare better under a second Trump administration?
First, let’s take a look at the healthcare policies and initiatives enacted under Trump’s prior presidency and during the current Biden-Harris administration, and then we'll examine the current platforms of the two candidates in this election and where they stand on drug prices.
Trump’s stance on lowering drug prices has been mostly at odds with the core of his fellow Republicans, which hamstrung his ability to implement his proposed policies.
Did Trump lower drug prices? Trump did have some success in lowering monthly insulin prices to US$35 for Medicare Part D plans, but only under a voluntary model. However, many of his other attempts failed to get off the ground for a variety of reasons.
“His efforts were largely fragmented and faced resistance from both the industry and lawmakers,” political strategist Sergio Jose Gutierrez, told KFF Health News. “The lack of a cohesive strategy and the limited ability to implement significant changes made his approach less effective compared to what a Harris-Walz administration could offer.”
Axios reports that while Trump’s staff did try to work with House Democrats on federal negotiated prescription drug prices under Medicare, he would later reject the proposal, “embracing GOP arguments it would lead to fewer cures.”
One of Trump’s attempts at lowering drug prices was the Most Favored Nation model, which would have tied the cost of certain drugs under Medicare to their costs in other, comparable countries. However, it encountered roadblocks in the courts due to challenges from pharmaceutical companies and concerns about its impact on hospitals and practices. It was ultimately never implemented, and was rescinded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in December 2021 following multiple comment periods.
Another healthcare move under Trump that faced opposition was a plan to import drugs from abroad, which was announced during his term but required Food and Drug Administration approval. Although in 2024 Florida ultimately became the first state to win federal approval to import prescription drugs from Canada, Health Canada has put up resistance, citing the need to safeguard the country’s own limited drug supply.
In another federal court challenge to the Trump administration, several Big Pharma companies — including Merck, Eli Lily and Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) — took issue with a US Health and Human Services decree that televised drug ads must include the wholesale prices of the drugs advertised. As Reuters reported, the courts sided with the pharmaceutical companies' argument that Health and Human Services lacked the authority to force them to publicly disclose list prices and that the list prices could discourage people from seeking treatment.
With regards to the Obama-era Affordable Care Act (ACA), Trump has been a vocal critic of it in the ongoing healthcare debate. During his time in office, his administration made several attempts to weaken the ACA. For example, according to KFF Health News, “In 2017, (Trump) unsuccessfully attempted to repeal and replace the ACA with various plans that would have increased the number of uninsured Americans to 51 million.”
Even before Harris stepped into her role as vice president, she has been actively taking part in improving access to affordable healthcare and lower prescription drug prices. As a Senator, she guarded against Republican efforts to dismantle the ACA and co-sponsored the Medicare For All Act, which sought to establish a true single-payer healthcare model.
The Biden-Harris administration reversed the holes Trump tried to poke in the ACA; for example, restoring outreach and enrolment assistance as well as funding. On the flip side, Harris supported and the Biden administration approved Florida’s bid to access lower cost drugs from Canada.
In 2022, Harris helped to pass the administration’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which capped drug prices at US$2,000 in total drug spending annually for Medicare beneficiaries, and extended the limited US$35 cap on monthly insulin supplies put forward under Trump to Medicare Part B and all Medicare Part D recipients.
On top of that, Harris cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate in favor of legislation allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices on the behalf of beneficiaries.
In August 2024, the government announced it had selected the first 10 drugs set to receive lower prices in 2026 — with discounts up to 79 percent — based on those negotiations. Many are indicated for diabetes and heart conditions, and are made by pharma giants such as Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY), Merck, AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN), Novartis (NYSE:NVS,SWX:NOVN), Amgen and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). More drugs, specifically biologics, will face price cuts in 2028.
In terms of pharma regulations concerning drug prices in the broader market, President Joe Biden warned drug companies back in December 2023 that if prices on certain drugs developed with federal funds become too high, the government may find it necessary to seize the patents and allow competitors to make them as well. “Drugmakers are almost certain to challenge the plan in court if it is enacted,” reported the Associated Press.
Now that Harris is out on the campaign trail, her healthcare and drug price platform is taking shape.
One of the policy goals of a Harris Administration is expanding the US$2,000 annual cap on prescription drug spending now enjoyed by Medicare recipients to all Americans with insurance. She said as much during her September 10 presidential debate with Trump.
“Since I’ve been vice president, we have capped the cost of prescription medications for seniors at $2,000 a year,” Harris said. “And when I am president, we will do that for all people.”
Harris has also vowed to protect the Affordable Care Act. “When I am president, we will do that for all people, understanding that the value I bring to this is that access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it, and the plan has to be to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, not get rid of it,” she declared during the televised presidential debate.
Under Harris, the Democrats’ healthcare platform also includes ensuring prices for “brand-name and outlier generic drugs” don’t outpace the rate of inflation. The party is also keen on preventing Big Pharma from colluding on prices or manipulating the patent system.
As part of her campaign promises, Harris has also proposed to quicken the pace of lowering prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients. If elected, her administration will focus on speeding up negotiations on cutting costs on “some of the most expensive and most commonly used drugs by nearly 40 (percent) to 80 (percent),” so these discounts would come into play in 2026.
Republicans have warned the policy could slow the development of new drugs. Stacie Dusetzina, a professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says its "unclear" if that would truly be the case; however, she does thing caution is warranted. "I want to see, what does that mean for drug development? What does that mean for access for patients?", she said.
During the October 1 vice presidential debate, Harris' running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz reiterated her support for the ACA and held up the Medicare drug price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act as one of her great achievements during office.
"Kamala Harris negotiated drug prices for the first time with Medicare. We have 10 drugs that will come online, the most common ones that'll be there," he said.
Trump's running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, made some spurious claims about prescription drug prices only being up by 1.5 percent during the whole of Trump's first term compared to 7 percent during the Biden Administration.
CBS was quick to fact check his statements, showing that the average annual cost of prescription drugs per person was up by 9 percent from 2017 to 2019 under Trump and up by 11 percent between 2020 and 2022 under Biden. Looking at median cost instead of average, the data shows that costs were down under both administrations.
During the presidential debate with Harris, Trump once again voiced his strong opposition to the Affordable Care Act: “Obamacare was lousy health care — always was. It's not very good today."
While he admits his administration was unable to repeal the ACA despite dozens of attempts that were blocked by Democrats, he would rather “just let it rot.”
When asked if he had any concrete healthcare plan for the country, he replied his team only has “concepts of a plan,” are considering “different plans” and would reveal more "in the not-too-distant future."
Senator JD Vance didn't provide much detail about his potential administration's healthcare plan during his debate performance either, although he did promise "we're going to cover Americans with pre-existing conditions" when pressed by Walz about his opposition to ACA.
Some on the other side of the aisle have said all the public needs to know about Trump’s healthcare plan can be found in Project 2025, a policy initiative by the Heritage Foundation published in 2022. Since Ronald Reagan’s presidency, every four years the conservative think tank has published a new batch of policy recommendations for the next Republican president.
Healthcare doesn’t get much space in the 900 plus page document, but what is addressed is the need to make dramatic changes to Medicaid, which serves low-income individuals and families, including repealing the law banning surprise medical billing. Also present are several directives aimed at curbing access to – and repealing FDA approval for – the abortion pill mifepristone, used in about half of US abortions, and the “week-after” contraceptive pill Ella. It also calls for the end of subsidies for stem cell or fetal cell research.
While Trump has disavowed Project 2025 and tried to distance himself from its authors, a large majority of its creators served in the first term of his administration. This includes prominent players such as Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, deputy White House chief of staff Rick Dearborn, former Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought and acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinelli.
Additionally, both Trump and the Heritage Foundation previously boasted that he enacted 64 percent of their recommendations within the first year of his presidency.
The 2024 GOP Platform document hosted on Trump’s campaign website states, “Healthcare and prescription drug costs are out of control. Republicans will increase Transparency, promote Choice and Competition, and expand access to new Affordable Healthcare and prescription drug options. We will protect Medicare, and ensure Seniors receive the care they need without being burdened by excessive costs.”
While Harris and Trump may be on opposite sides of the debate when it comes to the Affordable Care Act, both candidates are supportive of bringing down prescription drug costs.
While KFF Health News notes that prescription drug prices have not been a topic at the forefront of Trump's campaign, they did report that those close to him say he “would likely retain Medicare price negotiations unless the pharmaceutical industry can come up with something more compelling that they’d put on the table.”
However, Axios reports that a number of high-ranking Republicans are dead set on repealing the Medicare drug price negotiations set out under the IRA.
“Trump has pledged to ‘take on Big Pharma’ through administrative actions like tying what Medicare pays to prices in other developed nations,” said the news agency. “But he could still be open to repealing the IRA drug price measures, and his campaign isn't elaborating.”
Other efforts a second term Trump administration might take to reign in healthcare costs include placing caps on out-of-pocket insulin costs, importing US-made drugs that have been sold out of country and increasing competition among generic and biosimilar drugs.
According to KFF Health News, his administration may also seek to lower drug prices “in the Medicare 340B program, which requires drugmakers to provide outpatient drugs at reduced prices to eligible health organizations that serve lower-income and uninsured patients.”
It should be noted that in May 2024 US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of pharmaceutical companies, finding that they can limit their discounts under Medicare 340B.
As for the stalled Most Favored Nation model, one that is also supported by candidate Harris, Axios states that Trump has proposed taking executive action to make it a reality.
US federal election periods are often fraught with uncertainty for the life science sector. In the past, Republican administrations have been more favorable periods for pharmaceutical companies.
However, as with most aspects of American politics and industry, Trump has changed the game. The election of either candidate poses risks for pharma stocks.
But in terms of threats to drugmaker revenues and innovation, the Democrats’ push to more restrictive drug pricing regulations under Harris’ plans to expand the IRA present the bigger danger. The fact that nine out of the top 10 pharma companies with the highest 2024 campaign contributions have donated more to the Democrats and Harris shows that the pharmaceutical industry is well aware of the risk and are hedging their bets.
Since Harris is leading in the polls — even if only slightly — with a week left until the election, currying favor with a future Harris-Walz administration may be in their best interest.
Don’t forget to follow @INN_LifeScience for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Australian healthcare company InhaleRx (ASX:IRX) has entered into a AU$38.5 million funding facility with Melbourne-based Clendon Biotech Capital to cover clinical trial costs for its key projects.
InhaleRx currently has two main projects: its pain asset IRX-211 and its mental health asset IRX-616a.
According to the company, IRX-211 is designed to target breakthrough cancer pain, while IRX-616a focuses on offering fast and effective relief for individuals suffering from panic disorder.
“This partnership ensures that InhaleRx can move forward with the next stages ... including the associated non-clinical work and trial drug manufacturing costs for the IRX-211 and IRX-616a drug development plans through to the completion of Phase 2 clinical trials,” the company said in a press release on October 18.
InhaleRx will use the AU$38.5 million from Clendon to sustain both of its projects until they reach the pivotal Phase 3 stage within the next two to three years. During this time, the company will remain responsible for covering operational and corporate overhead costs that are not included in the scope of its agreement with Clendon.
Repayment terms are tied to project completion, and the funding facility has an interest rate of 15 percent per year.
“(InhaleRx) must repay the money owed in cash, but may use the proceeds from the exercise of the options to make the repayments,” InhaleRx says in its release. Clendon will also receive options in InhaleRx as part of the deal.
InhaleRx received the final clinical study report for a Phase 1 trial of IRX-211 in July. The company was encouraged by the results and is set to commence a Phase 2 trial for the drug toward the end of this year.
Also in July, the US Food and Drug Administration temporarily suspended InhaleRx's investigational new drug application for a Phase 1 trial involving IRX-616a. The company said it is working address the concerns identified.
Investigational new drug status isn't required for Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in Australia.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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